Terry Eastin
Executive Director
Mississippi River Trail, Inc.
479-236-0938
teastin@lynks.com
Little Rock, Arkansas – April 26, 2006 – Mississippi River Trail, Inc. is hosting the first “Heritage By Bike and Binocular Workshops” in Arkansas June 14th and 28th. Both workshops will be conducted from 9:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. at the Forrest L. Wood Nature Center in Jonesboro and Lake Chicot State Park in Lake Village respectively. Registration is free and more information can be found at www.mississippirivertrail.org.
Speakers include Dr. Ruth Hawkins, Director of the Delta Heritage Initiatives at Arkansas State University, and Mr. Mark Ackelson, board chairman of Mississippi River Trail, Inc. and President of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Other facilitators include Diana Allen, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service, and Terry Eastin, Executive Director, of Mississippi River Trail, Inc.
The two workshops, supported by a grant from the National Park Service, will bring together federal, state, county, and local officials, chamber of commerce leaders, heritage attraction managers, trail planners, and bicyclists to explore strategies for making the Mississippi Delta a worldwide destination for bicycle tourism. The Mississippi River Trail will be the catalyst and connective element connecting the “pearls” of heritage resources along the Mississippi.
The day-long workshops will focus on establishing goals and a vision for bike-related heritage and watchable wildlife tourism that would bring new visitors to heritage sites and provide new attractions and routes for bicycle touring in the region.
State and local trail and recreation planners will become more aware of heritage attractions as potential components of state and regional trail systems. Heritage attraction managers will be more aware of the potential audience of bicycle tourists. Bicycle tour leaders will be able to develop itineraries focusing on the region’s rich heritage resources. The Mississippi River Trail will identify a route and constituencies on the west side of the Mississippi in the Delta region.
Other sponsors of the workshop include: the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, Delta Heritage Tours, Arkansas Delta Byways, and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
